Grit, determination and courage were shown by a team from Cardiff and Vale University Health Board when they recently took on the Snowdon Push challenge.
Keith’s Warriors, a team made up from the Posture and Mobility Service with the Artificial Limb and Appliance Service (ALAS), along with Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, and Rehabilitation Engineer friends who treat patients affected by spinal cord injury, decided to take on this challenge to give something back to the charity Back Up for the help and support they provide to their patients.
Back Up is a small national charity that helps people of all ages and backgrounds to rebuild their confidence and independence following a spinal injury. Their wheelchair skills sessions, mentoring service and rehabilitative activity courses are all run by people who have spinal cord injury themselves. They also support people to overcome the challenges of returning to work or school. This year also sees their 30th Anniversary.
As an organisation, Back Up works with people of all ages, from young children to the elderly, and relies upon a network of volunteers, mentors and skilled professionals, to provide unrivalled support and enthusiasm for the work of the charity.
Keith Roberts, Assistant Directorate Manager for ALAS said: “The Snowdon Push was a challenge like no other that any of us have ever completed before”.
“The Push involved teams of between 10-16 people who aimed to conquer the highest mountain in England and Wales – Mount Snowdon – which is over 3,500 ft high.
“One member of the team had to be a wheelchair user, and so as a team this meant we pushed, pulled, climbed our way up, It was brutal and physically more demanding than expected for us all.
“To top it off we came second out of eleven teams that took part. We were twelve minutes behind the winners. Not a bad effort for first timers. Despite the pain the whole team are keen to do it next year!.”
“This year is Back Up’s 30th Anniversary and the whole team had their own reasons for doing this including personal goals and challenges. We were all determined to raise as much money we could, and so far we have raised over £4,460. I’d like to say a big “thank you” to all those who supported us along the way.”
